Station-indicator.



w. BECK.

STATION INDICATOR.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 14. 1914.

1,1 52,1 39, Patented Aug. 31, 1915.

5 SHEETS-SHEET I.

U HESTEQEE'U;

In Sm 2i HS 8mm O A TTOR/VEV ll 01 mum COHWASIHNGTON, h. c.

W. BECK.

STATION INDICATOR.

APPLICATION F|L ED MAY 14. 1914.

' Pafented Aug; 31, 1915.

5 SHEETSSHEET 2- & (S) 0 g; Q

R a l? g v I *1 o Q Q a O o W. BECK.

STATION INDICATOR.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 14. 1914.

1 ,152,139. Patented Aug. 31, 1915.

5 SHEETSSHEET 3.

INVENTOR I4 0sfi/07/O/7 E e/k WITNESSES:

A TTOR/VE Y COLUMBIA PLANDGRAPH c0.,wAs!-||Na'rnN. D. c.

W. BECK.

STATION INDICATOR.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 14. 1914.

Patented Aug".

5 SHEETSSHEET 4.

WITNESSES:

A TTORN E Y k'OLUMBIA PLANOORAPH (10-. WASHINGTON, n. c.

W. BECK.

STATION INDICATOR.

APPLICATION FILED MAY I4. I914. 1,152,139 Patented Aug. 31, 1915.

5 SHEETSSHEET 5.

ATTORNEY cbLTEn'unA PLANOORAPH CO.,WAS!HNGTON. n. c.

" We-rarhnr enrich- WASHINGTON BECK; OFiROCHESTER, NEW YORK;- ASSIGNORJOF ONE-FOURTI-ITO CARL 1). some, vone-r,oi'i-msir TO ANDREW J. ALDRIDGE; AND ONE-FOURTH T0 JOI-IN' LEWIS, -ALL' OF'BIRMINGHAM; ALABAMA;-

Specification of'Letters latest. P t te g 1 5 To all who???) 'it mag aancem-w displayed as signals to notify passengers as t11e'caror"train approaches such stations;

My invention comprises improvements in I pairs of rolls9' and 10 to the roll 5, the rolls the echanism for actuatinglthe belt; in mechanism for reversing" the direction" off travel of the-beltwh'e'n thetcaris' backed; in trip controlmechanisrn' to move theindicater in ample timeto'"displaythe name of the station being'approached; 'in mechanism controlled by 'the belt; when not of the 'end less type; to automatically reverse' its -direc tionof travel after ithas) beenunwound"; and in the variousothern'ovel details ofconstruct'io'n and arrangements of parts which are hereinafter 1nore*fullyf described and claimed and which are "illustrated in" their preferred embodiment only in the acc om" panying'drawings whichdo'rm a'part of this specification, andfin which :1

Figure 1 isa *frontelevation of the indie-a tor showing the cabinetpartly broken away: a Fig. 2 is a top "plan view of the operating" mechanism removed fromthecabinet: Figs." 3 and l-are end elevationsof 'Fig.2"taken"' from opposite sides. Fig.5 is a vertical cross section taken on theline o5' of YFigfioted-atats lower end to a stud bearing. 21 fon plate8' and pivotally connected at'its up 1. Fig. 6 is a verticalsectional View taken on the line of Figl' 7. Fig. 7 is ,a ver tical sectional view-taken onthe'line 7 -7 of Fig. 8. Fig.8 isa s'ectionalfview takenoni the line 88 ofFig; .Fig.-9{is a detail partial sectional 'view't'akenon the line 9 9 ofFig..5. Fig. IO isa'diagrammatic view of the circuits; Figs) '11 and 121a're'side and end views of the trolley'and trip attachment for controlling. theelectric'circuits; Fig. 13 is a sectional view takenon 'theline 13--13" of Fig. 12 with the 1 cover plate removed;

Similar reference numerals refer to simi- Be it knowntha-t I5-WASHIANGTONQB11CKI, a la-1" parts-throughout the drawings.

My rnjechan'ism is mounted in a cabinet 1 having-agla'sspanel 2 in its front exposed face throughWh'iCh is-visible the street or statiofifna'ines which are 3.; This "belt is' p'rovided along its margin wlth a series of equ'i-distantly spaced openlng's l an'dt-a's illustrated, is not of the endless type" (though such'may be used) being wound atits upperendon a roll 5 and at its lower end ona roll 6, both of which are disposed atthe rear of the machine and journaled' 'in the side plates 7 an'd8 which supportthe operating mechanism and which are spaced from the side walls of the casing. The belt; assho'wn in Fig.- 5, passes from the roll 6 forwardof the machine between two l0"'h'aving abont their endfstu-ds 11 which engage in' the holes 4: in the'belt and the rolls 9 being'pre'ferably'small tubular rolls with openings 12 at-theirends disposed to receive' the studs'11, thereby insuringthe posi tive feed of the belt and holding it tautbetweenth'e rolls 10 in display position.

The'*several"r0'1ls'5, 6 and'lO have their axes arranged 'to projectthrough the side plates'7 andI mountfas't on the outer end ofeach axis a spur gear 13, which gears are arranged to 'mesh with andbe driven by a large centrally disposed gear'le mounted on a sha llt 15 which extends through both plates 7 and"S'and'hasaratchet Wheel 16 fast on itsend-"adjacent to plate 8. This ratchet wheel 16 is provided with notches designed so that it can be rotated in either direction bythe' oawls' 17 'or18 which are held against the 'ratchet wheel by a coiled spring 19 and arepivotally'connectedon opposite sides of a vertically disposed oscillatory lever 20 pivplate8 and it has attached'to its inner face a a triangular shaped trip plate 26 with rounded corner edges adapted to engage, according to the direction of movement of the lever,

displayedon a belt 7 one or the other is two spring pressedj the plate '8 andhasfast in its inner end a crank arm 39 connected by means of a link 40 to then per, end of a bell crank lever {11.

This lever as oppositely disposed links .42,

12? pivoted to its free end and connected by;

Acoil spring 33 holds these switch arms nor mally against the stops 34: and 34: and they carry knife edge switch blades adapted to engage pairs of jcontacts 35 and 35" and closethe circuits hereinafter described. The

magnet cores 32 and 32 -are respectively controlled by -magnets 36 and 36 attached to the plate8 and oppositely disposed. A rockingplate- 37, having substantially an arrowheadconstruction, is connected rigidly at its upper end to a shaft, 38, see Figs. 6 and 7 1 which extends through. and journals in means of springs 13, 13 with crank arms 4&4:

and 449 on rocker shafts and 45 suitably mounted on the inner face of the plate 8.

These rocker shafts are provided respectively with's'tuds 46 and 46 which are adapted, re-

spectively, to engage and force inwardly the arms 17 and 17 These arms are pivoted atgtheirinner ends to a bearing 49 attached to plate 8 and'a't their free ends are slottedto receive thelaXes. 5 and 6? of the rolls 5 and 6, respectively. The rolls 5 and 6 are free to turn on'their axes and eachhas its left, hand end .(see Fig. .8) forming a collar 50: which projects beyond-the end wall 51 of v the roll. Clutch sleeves 52 and 52 are respectively adjustably connected tothe axes 5 and 6 byf-pins 53 and 53 and are designed to have a close turning fit in ends 50 of 'the rolls. The inner end 54 of either clutch. sleeve is adapted to engage the end wall 51 of its respective roll, its pin 53 or 53 having play in the slot for it in the roll aXis,'when its respective arm 47 or #17 is forcedinwardly by the stud 4:6 or 16 as the case may be; The clutch sleeves are each provided at their outer ends with an antifriction bearing ring 55 which is adapted to be en gaged by the arms 47 or 47"-, as the case may I be, the outerends of the axes being supported in'roller bearings 56 in the plates 7 and 8. Anantifriction thrust bearing 57 is provided for theright ha'ndends of the rolls 5 and 6 which are provided with annular shoulders 58 and 58 ,The lever 20 carries a stud 59 which is disposed in its center and in position to engage the bottom beveled faces 60 and 60 of the rocking plate 37, which plate is normally held in its central position relatively to the pin 59 by means of coiled springs 61 and 61 which connect the lower ends of the plate with the lever and tend to draw the plate back to the posi tion shown in Fig. 3. Near itsupper end, if desired, the lever 20 may be provided with a spring pressed latch pin 62adapted when a cross pin 63 therein is shifted into alinement with slots 64 in its guide sleeve 65 to permit its lower end to drop into either of the openings 66 or 66 in the plate 8.

The large gear wheel 14 is provided with a series of equi-distantly spaced rollers 67 adapted to be engaged by a curved stop or set plate 68, see Fig. 1; This plate 68 is connected to the lower end of aslide plate 69 having therein a longitudinal guide slot 70 in which guide pins 71 work. These pins set the plate at a slight angle and it is normally held against the roller 67 by a coil spring 72 connected at its lower end to a pin 73 and at its upper end to the slide plate 69 which is also provided near itsupper end with a detent 7 4L adapted to be engaged by a catch 75 pivoted to the top edge of plate 7 and serving to hold the plate 68 clear of the rollers 67 so that the gear 141 can be freely turned by a handle 76 thereon to reset the belt by hand.

On the shaft 15 adjacent to the inner side of the plate 7 I -mount a switch arm 77 which is free to turn thereon having at its lower end two notches 78 in one or the other ofwhich a set spring 79, connected to a stud 80, is adapted to engage so as to hold the switch arm in either operating position. At

its upper end the arm carries two pairs of contact plates 81 and 82 which are suitably insulated from each other at their bases and which at their upper ends are adapted to engage one or the other of two sets of contacts 83, 84, 85, 86, and 83, 84: 85 and 86, which are suitably mounted on an insulation base 87 connected to plate 7. The switch arm carries a lateral'extension 88, which at its free end is provided with a stud 89. .To this stud is fastened a curved spring plate 90, the ends of which are adapted to bear against the rolls 5 and 6, see Fig. 5. As shown in Fig. 9, each roll has connected to its face and disposed axially thereof a spring plate 91 adapted to normally spring away from the roll and being connected at its free end to a pin 92 which is passed through the roll and provided with a head on its inner end which limits the outward travelof the spring. These pins are so disposed that in their outer position they are adapted to engage the plate 90 and shift the switch arm 77, but it will be seen that the belt 3, as long as it is wound over the rolls will engage the plates and hold their pins in retracted position. When, however, as seen in Fig. 5, the belt has been unwound from roll 6, the pin 92 will then shift to the dotted position shown and, by engaging an end of plate 90, will shift the switch 7 7 into contact with the other set of contacts in the manner hereafter described, and will reverse the machine and thereupon the belt will travel in the reverse direction, serving to force the pin 92 back into the r0116 so this will clearplate 90.- When pin 92 ofroll 5 is released by the unwinding- 0f the belt therefrom, it will strike the-plate90 and shift the'switch 77 back to the position shown inFig. 5, again reversing the machinex I' provide the rolls 5 and 6 with brake shoes 93 which engage the surfaces 58and" 58 thereof, the tension of the brakesb'eing controlled by set screws 94 which are screwed throughstuds 95 fast on the plate 7 The plates 7 and -8 are suitably bracedto gether by cross bolts 96.

The method of wiringthe apparatus for electrical control is illustrated diagrammatically in Fig. 10. The batteries B and C are shown as the sources ofpower, but any othersource may be availed Iofi and-a branch wire I) leads to thecoil 23. From magnet 23" the wire I) continuesto switch arm 31' and when that is closed to the contacts 55 by magnet 36, the -circuit is closed through wire 6 back to thethe wire-6" leads from magnet 23 to switch arm= end bent inwardly and turned up at 101 to form a switch arm which through a notch into the box 98 where it is journaled on a pin 102. I attach to the switch arm 101 a circuit closing contact (not shown) which is suitably insulated at 103 from the switch itself. A cover plate'104 is provided for the box 98 and to thesides of this are connected oppositely acting springs 105 between which the lower end of the trip arm 100 is disposed, and by means ofwhich it is held normally in vertical or neutral position, as shown in Figs. 11 and 18. When the trip arm 100 strikes the trip plate 106 on the strand wire 108 which supports the trolley wire 107, it will be rocked rearwardly,thereby moving its switch arm 101 to close the circuit between the contacts The maincircuit'for controlling main magnets 23 and 23 is traced as follows; wireb leads from' one end of the battery B to magnet coil 23 This box also carries on each side of the contact 97 two contacts 97 and 97?. A trip arm 100 has its lower passes upwardly 97and' 97*" so-that current willflow through wire c'to the contacts'83 and 86. If switch" 101 is moved inthe reverse'direction, it will open circuit wire a and closethe circuit to wire 0 andtothe contacts 85 and 8 1. The

contacts 84t and 83 are connected to wire 0 which'includes the coil 86 and is connected by return wire c to'the battery C. The contacts" 85 and '86 are connected by wire 0 which-includes the magnet 36 and returns through wire c to the battery.

Whentheswitch arm 7 7'is in the position shown in Fig. 10, if arm-101 is moved to close th'e circuit through wire 0, current will flow to contact 86, plates 82, contact 85 towire-o and energize the magnet 36,thereby closing the switch in wireb at '35 and causing batte'ryBto energize magnet 23 and jerk the le'ver'20'to the left; Inlike man-" ner, when contact arm 77 is-shifted to its position over the'other set ofcontacts'83, and arm 101 is moved to close the circuit to wireac the'same'ope-ration will result. qlf however the arm closesthe circuit'through wire 0, current will'flow through contact 83, plates81 and wire 0 to energize the magnets 36 and 23 and shift thele'ver 20 to the right, which same result would "follow if arm 101 were shifted to the left when the parts are in the position shown in'Fi a 10. When shifted to the right the lever-20 places under tension the spring 13 throughthe rocking ofthe plate 37 'and the -mechanism connected therewith, as shown in F ig.7.f This movement causes counterclockwise, which advances the gear wheel 14, as viewed in Fig. 4, direction and rotates the several feed rolls counter-clockwise. The pull on spring 13 moves the clutch sleeve 52 into service and causes the r0115 to rotate and wind the belt on it, advancing thebelt one position, while the clutch sleeveof roll 6 leaves the latter free tov feed "off the belt. Thisrotation of the ratchet 16 turnsshaft 15 and gear 14 sufficiently tocause one roller 67 to ride under drops down the plate 68, which latter then between thesucceeding pair of rollers and serves to stop and centerthe belt actuating mechanisminpositiOn to display the station name.

WVhen lever arm 20 is shifted to the left, the ratchet 16 and shaft 15 are turned to reverse and through spring 43 and arm 17, the clutch52 is 6 is turned to wind the the roll5 is left free to turn and feed off the belt. When switch arm31 is drawn inwardly by its magnet 36, its pin 30 ,drops into the notch 29 of the spring catch 27 and belt thereon while is held in this position with the circuit 35 positively closed until the magnet 23 has actedto draw the lever arm 20 its full stroke to the left, whereupon the trip plate26 spring 61 and also in a clockwise thrown into service and roll the dog 18 to advance the ratchetwheel l6 be releasedby the lever attheextreme of strikesthe beveled end 28 of the plate 27 and raises it, thereby freeing the switch arm from the catch and permitting spring 33 to v so drawitinto open position. The same operation applies to the switch arm 31?. r

. 7 -1In the manner already explained, when either pin 92 is shiftedoutwardly by the removal of belt tens-ion: from its spring 91, itwill strike the plate 90 and shift the switch ingly the direction of operation of the maarm 77' to reverseits position, and accordchine will reverse .the travel of the belt.

Where endless: belts are used this'pr'ovision can be dispensed with. The trolley trips K 1O6'areattachedtothe cross strands 108 and disposed on each-side of the trolley wire 107. They. are beveledat each end so that .if a. car happens to be-backed past one of, these 7 contacts, switch 10 l. will close the circuitsocket plug 110. The several Wires in the box lead from connecting screws' atthe base of the plug to the magnets and switch points.

in the manner described.

WVithoutfintend'ng to but regarding the same merely asmy preferred construction, what I claim as new and desire to secure byjLetters Patent, is

:1. 'lln astation indicator, f the combination with means.tofdisplay in succession a series ofstation names,- of reversible actuating mechan sm for sa1dmeans,1sa1d mechanism comprising an oscillatory lever, a ratchet wheel, oppositely actmgdogs on said lever for advancing said wheel in either direction, magnets for operating Isaid lever in either direction, magnet circuits, an electrically controlled switch for each magnet circuit, trip controlled means-to electrically close either of said switches, a latch to hold each'switch closed and the magnet controlled thereby energized until itjhas fully I moved the lever, said latch being adapted to its'tra vel, and means to automatically open the switches when their respective catches are released. V U l 2. In a station indicator, a vbelt having displayed: thereon the station names, mechanism for feeding the belt a step, atthe time, said mechanism comprising an I oscillatory lever, electrically controlled means to move said lever from a neutral positionin either direction, a double acting pawl-and .ratchet l limit myself to the 5 particular details of construction and arrangement of: parts hereinabove, described,

driven transmission mechanism operated by said lever and: adapted to impart movement to the belt in either direction, a rocking member movable with the lever, normally open friction clutches interposed in said driving mechanism, and means controlled by said rocking member according to its direction of movement whichcauses one or the other of said clutches to engage and drive said belt in one or the other direction, substantially as described.

3. In a station indicator, a belt having displayed thereon station names, mechanism for advancing the belt step by step comprising rolls which feed and guide the belt, and means for reversing the direction of movement'of the belt actuating mechanism, which means comprise spring pressed actuators which spring outwardly when free of the belt, a rocking reversing lever, springs thereon which frictionally engage the belt wound on the rolls and are disposed in position to be engaged by areleased actuator andmoved thereby to shift said lever, and means controlled by said lever to reverse said feed mechanism forthe belt.

4. In a station indicator, the combination with movable means for displaying station names, of mechanism for advancing said means step by step iILeltllGI direction, said mechanism comprising an oscillatory actuating lever, motion transmission means operable by said lever and adapted to advance said movable display means, solenoids dis posed on opposite sides of said lever and having a common core connected to said lever, and trip controlled vmechanism which energizes one or the other of said solenoids according to the direction inwhich it is tripped.- i

In a station indicator, the combination with a movable belt having displayed thereon station names, and feed rolls which'control the movement. of said belt, o of mecha nism foradvancing the belt comprising an oscillatory member, Ia main drive shaft, means'to transmit rotary motionin either direction from said member to said shaft, a friction drive member for each feed roll, gears driven from said shaft to rotate said friction members responsive to the movement of said member, and means actuated by said oscillatory member to force one or the other of said friction means into operative engagement with its respective feed roll, while leaving the other roll free to rotate. v

6. In a station indicator, in combination, an oscillatory lever, alarge gear wheel, a double acting pawl and ratchet driving connection between said lever and gear whereby the latter is moved in one or the other direction step bystep, a spring pressed forked rockingplateya projection on the lever interposed between the forked ends of said plate and adapted to be engaged thereby and adjusted to hold the lever normally in neutral position, electrically controlled means to actuate the lever in either direction, a display belt, feed rolls for the belt, clutch members for driving said feed rolls, which members are driven by gears meshing with said large gear, and means operated by said rocking plate to control the engagement of only one of said clutches at a time with its respective feed roll, substantially as described.

7. In a station indicator, display mechanism having station names thereon and adapted to be actuated step by step to display the same, means to actuate said display mechanism comprising a rocking drive lever, spring means to hold it in neutral position, magnetic means to rock said lever in opposite directions, two friction clutches adapted to be driven in reverse directions by said lever and adapted to impart motion to said display mechanism, means controlled by the direction of movement of said lever to cause one or the other of said clutches to drive said display mechanism, substantially as described.

8. In a station indicator, an oscillatory actuating lever, spring means holding it normally in neutral position, trip controlled electro-magnetic mechanism for oscillating it in either direction from said neutral position, a station indicating belt, .feed rolls for said belt, driving connections to said feed rolls comprising friction clutches, a double acting pawl and ratchet driving connection between said lever and said clutches which are adapted to be driven thereby in either direction, said clutches being normally open, and spring means actuated by the lever to throw one or the other of said clutches into service according to the direction of travel of the lever.

9. In a station indicator, the combination with a display mechanism and reversible driving means there'for, of actuating mechanism for operating said driving means comprising an oscillatory lever, spring means to hold the lever in neutral position, electrically controlled means to shift the lever in either direction from its neutral position, said means comprising lever actuating mag- Gopies of this patent may be obtained for five 'cents each, by addressing the nets, switch and circuit connections controlling the energization of each of said magnets, a control magnet for controlling each of said switches, a reversible switch and circuits controlled thereby for energizing one or the other of said latter magnets to close its respective control switch and effect the energization of its respective lever actuating magnet, and means to hold said control switch closed until the lever actuating magnet completes its actuating movement.

10. Ina station indicator, an electrically operated reversible step by step driving mechanism for the name display means comprising separate power circuits and normally open switches in said circuits, of control mechanism for said switches comprising normally open circuits, magnetic means in each circuit to control one of said switches, stationary trips and switch means actuated thereby for closing one or the other of said control circuits momentarily to close the power circuit switch controlled thereby, means to hold said power circuit switch closed during the resultant movement of the operating mechanism to shift the display means one step, and means to effect the opening of said power circuit switch atthe completion of the actuating movement, substantially as described.

11. In a station indicator, an electromechanical mechanism comprising an electric motor, a crank, and transmission means operable by the crank for efiecting a step by step feed of a display means, a power circuit for said electric motor, a switch therein, means tending to hold said switch normally open, a control circuit including magnetic means to close said switch, a switch to momentarily energize said control circuit and close said power circuit switch, catch means to engage and hold said power circuit switch cl0sed, and a trip moved by the crank to release the catch means at the end of the cranks travel and permit said power circuit switch to open, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I afiiX my signature in presence of two witnesses.

WASHINGTON BECK. Witnesses:

F. M. YncKLEY, MYRON J. HAYES.

Commissioner of Patents,

Wa hing n, G." 

